Amritsar: While keeping up with demand of the locals to safegaurd the heritage status of 125 years old Khalsa college Amritsar, Capt Amarinder Singh lead Congress government here on Wednesday decided to scrap the Khalsa University Act, 2016.

A decision to this effect was taken by the state cabinet at a meeting, chaired by Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.(HT Photo)

As reported by the media the decision in this regard was taken during the cabinet meet of the Punjab government on Wednesday, chaired by Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.he had promised to protect the legacy of Khalsa College, Amritsar, which is one of oldest educational institutions in the sub continent with a heritage status.

An official spokesman reportedly said that the cabinet termed as “appalling” the move by the Khalsa College Society to destroy its heritage status by converting the institution into a university.

It was back in 2016 when the Khalsa university was established vide passing Khalsa University Act 2016, by perivious Badal-BJP government despite criticism from Amritsar residents and college alumni, the cabinet said.

The cabinet decided that there was “no point establishing an additional university in Amritsar, which already had several reputed institutions of higher learning” such as Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Sri Guru Ram Dass University of Health Sciences and Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Amritsar, reads a quote published in an English vernacular.

Media reports further indicated that the cabinet was of the view that taking away a chunk of land from Khalsa College to make a University will affect the existence of Khalsa College. The council of ministers said that in order to maintain the identity of Khalsa College, all the properties attached to it should be kept intact.